ILOILO — The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has intensified its warning against leptospirosis as persistent rains and flooding continue to raise the risk of infection across the province, where 69 cases and eight deaths have already been recorded this year.
The health office said residents should avoid wading through floodwaters, rice fields, rivers and other waterlogged areas that may be contaminated with the urine of infected rats and other animals, warning that exposure could lead to the potentially fatal bacterial disease.
The 69 confirmed cases, which included the fatalities, were logged from Jan. 4 to July 11. While the number of cases is four percent lower than the 72 recorded during the same period last year, deaths have climbed sharply from two deaths in 2025.
Leptospirosis is a potentially deadly bacterial infection transmitted through water contaminated with the urine of infected rats, particularly floodwaters and submerged agricultural fields.
Infection usually occurs when contaminated water enters the body through open wounds or through the eyes, nose or mouth.
To reduce the risk of infection, the IPHO urged the public to avoid swimming or wading in floodwaters and rice fields whenever possible, wear boots if exposure cannot be avoided, take doxycycline prophylaxis under a doctor’s prescription after flood exposure, and wash thoroughly after coming into contact with contaminated water.
“May yara kita available nga bulong sa aton health centers para sa mga naka-ubog sa baha ukon na-expose sa kontaminado nga tubig. Palihog magpakig-angot sa aton mga health workers ukon magkadto sa pinakamalapit nga health facility para sa konsultasyon kag nagakaigo nga bulong,” the IPHO said.
The agency also advised residents to seek immediate medical consultation if they develop fever, headache, body pain, red eyes or other symptoms after exposure to floodwaters.
Janiuay recorded the highest number of cases with five, followed by Dingle and Oton with four each. Both Dingle and Oton recorded one fatality.
Other municipalities in the Top 10 were Balasan (three), Barotac Nuevo (three cases, one death), Dueñas (three cases, two deaths), Dumangas (three cases, one death), Leganes (three), Pototan (three), and Tigbauan (three).
The remaining cases were reported in Zarraga (three), Alimodian (two), Passi City (two), Lambunao (two), Lemery (two), Maasin (two), Mina (two), San Dionisio (two cases, one death), San Enrique (two), Santa Barbara (two), Sara (two), Banate (one), Barotac Viejo (one), Cabatuan (one), Calinog (one), Concepcion (one death), Leon (one), Miag-ao (one), New Lucena (one), and Pavia (one).
The IPHO said 31 of Iloilo Province’s 42 municipalities and the component city of Passi, have already reported leptospirosis cases this year, underscoring the need for heightened public vigilance during the rainy season./PN
